Michigan could become 4th state to legalize online gambling

State Rep. Brandt Iden, R-Kalamazoo, introduced a bill that would allow Michigan’s 23 brick-and-mortar casinos to get licenses to offer online gaming.

If the bill becomes a law, three casinos in Detroit and 20 tribal casinos all over Michigan would be able to get licenses to offer online gaming. Currently, the three states that offer legal online gambling are New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada.

Iden said he introduced the bill after talking to numerous students attending Western Michigan University in his hometown who said they participated in online gambling without knowing it was illegal.

“Technology is changing, businesses are going to have to adapt to that and they’re going to need an online platform at some stage,” Iden said. “I-gaming will happen in Michigan and whether I do it, or this governor signs it, I don’t know, but we have to start the conversation.”